Terrorist Attack on Riyadh Refinery Draws Condemnation

The Riyadh refinery. (AFP file photo)
The Riyadh refinery. (AFP file photo)
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Terrorist Attack on Riyadh Refinery Draws Condemnation

The Riyadh refinery. (AFP file photo)
The Riyadh refinery. (AFP file photo)

The terrorist drone attack against the Riyadh refinery in the Saudi capital on Friday has drawn widespread condemnation.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen slammed the cowardly terrorist attack, saying it targets not only the Kingdom, but the stability and security global energy supplies.

He reiterated his call on the international community to stand by Riyadh in taking deterrent measures against the terrorists that support and carry out these acts.

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Dr. Nayef al-Hajraf denounced the attack and previous ones that have targeted the Kingdom’s vital installations and civilian locations.

Such attacks not only target the security and economy of the Kingdom, but the security of the Gulf, region and world, he added.

The GCC stands by Saudi Arabia, whose security is indivisible from the Gulf, he stressed. He added that the council supports all the measures Riyadh takes to protect its territories and confront such attacks, and those who commit and support them.

Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry underscored Manama’s unyielding solidarity with Riyadh against all acts that target its security. It stressed the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities in condemning these terrorist and cowardly acts that threaten the security of the region.

The United Arab Emirates’ foreign ministry condemned the terrorist attack that targets Saudi Arabis’s vital installations and civilian locations, as well as global energy supplies. It noted that the persistence of such attacks in recent weeks is a dangerous escalation that undermines the security and stability of the region.

The UAE reiterated its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, its stand with the Kingdom against all threats to its security and stability, and its support for all measures taken for the security and safety of its citizens and residents.

It emphasized that “the security of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are indivisible, and that any threat facing the Kingdom is considered by the Emirates a threat to its security and stability.”

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry expressed its deep and complete condemnation of the ongoing cowardly attacks against the Kingdom that are a direct threat to the security and stability of Saudi Arabia and its people. The attacks are also a threat to global energy supplies.

It renewed its solidarity with Kingdom and support for all the measures it takes to protect its security and sovereignty.



Khalid bin Salman in Iran, Hands Khamenei Message from King Salman

This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran on April 17, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran on April 17, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
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Khalid bin Salman in Iran, Hands Khamenei Message from King Salman

This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran on April 17, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran on April 17, 2025. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held talks in Tehran on Thursday with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

In a post on the X platform, Prince Khalid said he was visiting Iran at the directives of the Saudi leadership, revealing that he had handed Khamenei a written message from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

He added that he discussed with Khamenei issues of common interest and bilateral relations between their countries.

“Ties with Saudi Arabia are beneficial for both countries and we can complement each other,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by Iran’s Tasnim news agency,

The meeting was attended by chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri.

Prince Khalid was received by Bagheri upon his arrival in Tehran.

“Relations with Saudi Arabia have been witnessing growth and development since the signing of the Beijing Agreement,” Bagheri was quoted as saying by Iranian media.

Tehran and Riyadh can play an important role in ensuring regional security, he added.

Moreover, he said his country was ready to develop defense ties with the Kingdom.

Tehran also “appreciates Saudi Arabia’s position towards Gaza and Palestine,” he said, according to Tasnim.

Prince Khalid’s visit comes amid major regional and international developments.

Saudi and Iranian officials are set to sit down for talks on a number of issues, while Prince Khalid will hold several meetings focused on bilateral relations between Riyadh and Tehran.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held telephone talks last week with Pezeshkian that covered regional developments and issues of common interests.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqhchi held telephone talks on Monday.

This is second visit by a Saudi defense minister to Tehran since 1979 when late Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz for four days in 1999.

Prince Khalid is the highest-ranking official from the Kingdom to visit Iran since the two countries reached a Chinese-mediated détente in March 2023. FM Prince Faisal visited later that year.

Saudi political analyst Abdel Latif al-Melhem said Prince Khalid’s visit reflects the Saudi leadership’s keenness on bolstering and developing ties with Iran in line with the Beijing Agreement.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi leadership is seeking to achieve peace and prosperity in the region and close the chapter of regional conflicts and embark on a phase of stability and security.

He noted that the development of relations between Riyadh and Tehran can be attributed to the efforts led by Crown Prince Mohammed to achieve peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.